Trump botched Oval address announcing Europe travel restrictions, leading many US citizens to believe they were about to be locked out of country. Air travel surged – from 30K on 3/11 to 45K on 3/12. Many carried infection, reentered country w/ no medical checks.

As Trump spoke from Oval, panic swept thru United Flight 989 departing Dulles. Passengers demanded to get off, fearing they would be barred from return to US. Nearly every American on the Frankfurt flight deplaned.
One flight attendant got off plane for first time in 21 yrs.

Trump blamed Kushner for Oval debacle. Kushner helped draft speech and wouldn’t share copy with DHS, HHS, CDC or any other agency that had to execute order.

Administration spent hours issuing tweets and statements to fix Trump errors.

Dep NSA Matt Pottinger & others pushed in Feb. to close off travel from Europe, saying once virus got there it would go “whoosh.” But he was blocked by Mnuchin and others. Infected travelers flowed in for weeks.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker lashed out at Trump on Twitter as O’Hare lines exploded. Feds need to get “s@ #t together”. WH official called minutes later. He offered no help with crisis -- just berated the gov for insulting president.

Jack Siebert, NYU student studying in Madrid, caught covid in Spain with temps of 104 degrees. After Trump oval speech, hi parent raced to get him flight home. He spent 5 hrs in crowded lines at O’Hare. CDC screeners just took his temp and waived him thru.

Trump keeps claiming he alone blocked travel from China.

In reality, US airlines cut off flights before WH acted. United told WH it was about to do same but would hold off to let WH take credit. All before China ban.

Trump claims blocking China travel saved million-plus lives. But covid strains that killed most Americans came from Europe. WH let travel continue weeks after Italy outbreak. Troubled Trump speech/policy caused more covid to flood in.